Well it has been a little while since my January update so I thought I would take a few moments on this rainy morning in SoCal to update everyone on what has been going on since last time I posted. We have now officially lived down here for 6 months and it is incredible all that has happened in this half of a year. God has been so very gracious and kind to us and has poured out such blessing on us. We thought that we were moving to LA for seminary training, but God wanted us to move to LA for sanctification and spiritual growth. Isn't it amazing how a man plans his steps and yet God determines his course!
So what has been going on? let me describe some of the important happenings that have occurred over the last month and a half. February was an interesting month that ended up being full of sickness. Trish and Ava both got sick near the beginning of the month and fought it throughout most of the month. Fortunately, the rest of the kids and myself did not come down with it, at least not in the same strength and duration as Trish did so I was able to care for Trish and help around the house as needed during that time. I will say, I do not make a very good mother nor homemaker! It's amazing how much I appreciate Trish when she is sick and I realize all that she does around our home. At the end of the month Trish and the kids drove up to Modesto and spent 7 days with family (I had to stay home because of work and school). They had a great time with family and friends and were able to see Trishia's sister and her family from Boise. I must say that a week in an empty house was almost unbearable - it is interesting how you come to enjoy noise and constant action and yes, even clutter and kids messes! Ok, maybe not the messes, but needless to say, I was very ready for the 5 of them to get home so I could see them. God was gracious to protect them on the roads both there and back and they arrived home on March 1. As for my classes over the past couple months, I am now over half way through the Spring semester and am enjoying my classes immensely. I especially like my Biblical Exposition of Prayer class which has probably impacted me more than any class I have ever taken. The time I have been able to spend studying the doctrine of Prayer and then putting that into practice has been life changing! Prayer, which has so often in my life been an afterthought, has become a staple of my life. God has been so kind to help me grow in this area and has given me opportunities to pray with others regularly. At TMS we have prayer meeting every Tuesday/Thursday morning at 6:30am and in February I started a lunch time Prayer meeting every Thursday on campus for guys who could not make morning prayer. Those hours of prayer with brothers from all around the globe have been some of the sweetest times I have ever experienced as we pray for one another and intercede on behalf of our world. I did not realize how little prayer was a part of my life before coming to TMS, and now I cannot imagine my day without time spent with the Lord in committed prayer. Speaking on the topic of prayer, I have to give God all the glory and praise for his continuing provision for us physically as well. I came to TMS without a job and only the intention of starting a painting business. I had no clients (save 1) and no idea how to go about starting a business in this area. So we prayed and I began sharing that prayer request with others in our Bible Study. Well our prayers have been answered far beyond what I expected. In February I was able to complete my Contractor's License (Passed the exam and finished all of the paperwork-just waiting on the State to send me my license) and am now officially Aaron Filbrun Painting. God has been so good to send me customer after customer and I am now dealing with the problem of trying to find time to finish all of the jobs that are coming my way. I have had the great privilege of working for some wonderful people who have passed my name on to other wonderful people and thus my business has grown and continues to grow. Now I am prayerfully considering whether or not I should hire some guys this summer to help me (there are some seminary guys who could use the work and this may be a way I can bless them with wages greater than they could earn elsewhere, and they could help me complete the many jobs upcoming). Oh how kind is our Lord! Another area of answered prayer has come in the last couple of weeks. Since arriving here and plugging in at Grace I have struggled to find where I fit. I spent much of the last 4 years serving regularly and intensely at RHC as an elder and music leader. Then we come to LA and we don't have those same responsibilities. Near the end of last year I began to get a little discouraged, unsure of what God had for me and eager to begin to practice with the tools and skills I am learning at TMS. Well, God's timing is perfect, he gave us time to get settled and to focus our attention on the aftermath of Austin's accident and hospital stay without the pressure of extra responsibilities. But now he is beginning to open doors for ministry. I have been given the opportunity to preach at an upcoming TMS camping event we are having over spring break, I will be preaching in our Bible Study in May and am preaching at our Mainstream Fellowship Group at Grace on April 10! I also have some opportunities to volunteer and preach with some local jail ministries in the area. I would appreciate your prayers as I prepare for each of this ministry opportunities that I would rightly divide the Word and proclaim the Truth clearly. Lastly, this week is the annual Shepherds Conference at Grace Community and I am eager and excited to attend again this year (4 years running). My dad and my good friend Colby are going to come and stay with us through the week and attend the conference so I am looking forward to time to spend with them as well. Please pray for all of the 3500 men who are traveling to the area for this conference. Also, pray for the men who will be preaching and proclaiming the truth this week. You can stream the conference live at the Shepherds Conference website if you are interested. (P.S. - I will be singing with the TMS Men's Choir Wednesday morning at 10:00am, what an honor to kick off the Conference with a couple hundred other guys). We are blessed to be able to hear from John MacArthur, Al Mohler, Ligon Duncan, Paul Washer, Nathan Busenitz (I take apologetics and Historical Theology from Him), Phil Johnson, and Tom Pennington. It should prove to be a wonderful event and great time of exhortation and encouragement. Well that is an update of how things are going down here with us. Please continue to pray that Trish and I and the kids will daily deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow after Jesus. We pray the same for each of you and would love to hear from you as well. Please let us know if there is anyway we can pray for you as well. May God be honored and glorified by our lives!
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Filbrun Family6 sinners saved by God's unmerited Grace, trying to live for the Glory of God in all things! Archives
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